The Ohio Art Company has won the Grand Award at the International Metal Decorating and Packaging Association’s (IMDPA) 2026 Excellence in Quality competition, with its Rainforest Falls container taking top honours at the association’s annual conference in Itasca, Illinois.

The Bryan, Ohio-based firm had a strong night overall. As well as the Grand Award, Rainforest Falls won Best of Category in Specialty & Fancy Cans, while the company also took both awards in the Miscellaneous category: Best of Category for Annihilation and an Award of Excellence for Michael.

Canpack US was the standout name in the individual awards, with three of the eight people recognised coming from its Olyphant, Pennsylvania, and Muncie, Indiana, plants. Its Olyphant facility also won Best of Category in Two Piece Beverage for Arizona Tropical Mango Splash.

Metal Packagers of the Year

Nicolas Branen, Canpack, Olyphant, PA
Masson Goss, Canpack, Muncie, IN
Brian Roth, Crown Cork & Seal, Weirton, WV
Tyler Wendt, J.L. Clark, Rockford, IL

Decorators of the Year

Cristian Bacu, Canpack US, Olyphant, PA
Mark Donegan, Trivium Packaging, Youngstown, OH
James Keele, Canpack US, Muncie, IN
Jason Wilson, Crown Cork & Seal, Bowling Green, KY

Excellence in Quality winners

The competition drew winners from across North America and Asia, with Sri Lanka’s Tinpack sweeping the Food & General Line category and Indian manufacturers taking both awards in Closures & Ends. The Meridian Design Studio of Greenville, Pennsylvania, won two Awards of Excellence for the same design, its USA 250th Anniversary can, in both Digital Printing and Specialty & Fancy Cans.

Aerosol & Bottles
Best of Category: Trivium Packaging, Youngstown, OH, for Zephyrhills
Award of Excellence: Crown Cork & Seal, Aurora, IL, for O’Reilly Brake Parts Cleaner

Closures & Ends
Best of Category: Shetron Limited, India, for Lackmann Food Group
Award of Excellence: Can Ends Private Ltd, India, for EZ Open Ends

Craft Cans
Best of Category: Crown Cork & Seal, Bradley, IL, for Half Acre Lager Town
Award of Excellence: Ball Corporation, Mexico, for Freak of Nature

Digital Printing
Best of Category: CanSealing Systems, Littleton, CO, for Summer Vibes
Award of Excellence: The Meridian Design Studio, Greenville, PA, for USA 250th Anniversary

Food & General Line
Best of Category: Tinpack Ltd, Sri Lanka, for Krisco Snack Crackers
Award of Excellence: Tinpack Ltd, Sri Lanka, for Multico Enamel

Miscellaneous
Best of Category: The Ohio Art Company, Bryan, OH, for Annihilation
Award of Excellence: The Ohio Art Company, Bryan, OH, for Michael

Specialty & Fancy Cans
Best of Category: The Ohio Art Company, Bryan, OH, for Rainforest Falls
Award of Excellence: The Meridian Design Studio, Greenville, PA, for USA 250th Anniversary

Two Piece Beverage
Best of Category: Canpack, Olyphant, PA, for Arizona Tropical Mango Splash
Award of Excellence: Ardagh Group, Elk Grove Village, IL, for Monster Ultra Red White & Blue Razz